With Kentucky missing two key starters—Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr—the Wildcats needed other players to rise to the occasion in their critical matchup against the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers. One of those players was Koby Brea, a transfer from Dayton, who bounced back from a recent slump to help Kentucky secure a major SEC victory.
Brea had struggled with his shooting in the previous five games, making only 7 of his last 29 attempts from beyond the arc. However, against Tennessee, he delivered a highly efficient performance, scoring 18 points while shooting a flawless 5-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from three-point range. He also contributed in multiple areas, knocking down 5-of-7 free throws and adding three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
With Butler sidelined, Kentucky had to adjust its ball-handling responsibilities. Jaxson Robinson took over the primary duties, but Brea also showcased more versatility in his offensive game. He played with increased aggression, attacking the defense off the dribble and creating opportunities for his teammates. His ability to draw defenders allowed him to make effective passes, including some well-timed dump-offs for easy baskets. Additionally, Brea demonstrated his off-ball movement, cutting backdoor for a baseline dunk and knocking down a smooth one-dribble pull-up jumper.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Brea uses his height to shoot over smaller defenders and has developed as a playmaker, showing improved vision with skip passes in both halfcourt sets and transition plays.
Despite his well-rounded game, Brea’s biggest strength remains his elite three-point shooting. Earlier in the season, he gained attention as one of the top shooters in college basketball, and his performance against Tennessee proved he’s still capable of playing at that level. He displayed his shooting versatility by reading the defense—using a shot fake to set up a one-dribble three, pulling up for an isolation triple, and stepping behind a screen to knock down another. While he doesn’t take an extremely high volume of threes, he makes them with remarkable efficiency, hitting 47.8% from beyond the arc this season and 44.2% for his college career.
As the SEC remains as competitive as ever, Brea will have plenty of chances to reinforce his status as one of the nation’s best shooters while continuing to show the other dimensions of his game. Up next, Kentucky will host former head coach John Calipari and Arkansas in what promises to be an exciting matchup at Rupp Arena on Saturday night.
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